State worries about former Cardinal leaders secreting money, gets restraining order

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina health officials believe the former leaders of Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions may be trying to hide the organization's money on their way out the door.

North Carolina health officials taking over mental health agency

The Department of Health and Human Services got a temporary restraining order against the former CEO and 11 board members.

DHHS officials said "time is of the essence" and that those defendants "may be attempting to gain access to Cardinal funds without right and with the goal of secreting these funds from the state."

DHHS officials told Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke they discovered documents that raised "serious concerns about proposed financial activities by former board leadership and the former CEO."

This comes just days after DHHS took over Cardinal and banned those defendants from the property.

Health officials said the organization broke the law, spent millions of tax dollars without permission, and can't get back on track on its own.

Cardinal is the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the state.

It handles behavioral health care for 850,000 members in 20 counties and has received $500 million in Medicaid money each year.

DHHS and Cardinal told Stoogenke members shouldn't see any gaps in service during the state's takeover.

Cox Media Group